is a traditional Japanese martial arts practitioner who holds a number of Soke positions in Japanese schools of martial arts. Specialising in various weapon forms ( Bojutsu, Sojutsu,

Iaijutsu is a combative quick-draw sword technique. This art of drawing the Japanese sword, katana, is one of the Japanese ''ko-ryū'' martial art disciplines in the education of the classical warrior (samurai, bushi).Gordon Warner, Warner, Gordon and D ...

Naginata The ''naginata'' (, , ) is a polearm and one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades ('' nihontō''). ''Naginata'' were originally used by the samurai class of feudal Japan, as well as by ashigaru (foot soldiers) and sōhei ( ...

) and unarmed fighting methods. He is also an author and has appeared in numerous world media.

Early years

His grandfather, who was in charge of the emperor's protection, instilled in him a drive to learn kobudo from an early age. He began his formal martial arts training at the age of 13 with

Kendo is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu (one of the old Japanese martial arts, swordsmanship), that uses bamboo swords ( shinai) as well as protective armor ( bōgu). It began as samurai warriors' customary swordsmanship ex ...

attaining a 4th Dan at 25 years old.

International teaching

In 1988 he traveled to France as part of the Nihon Budo delegation selected by the Japanese Ministry of Education and the Agency of Cultural Affairs. Since then he has frequently been invited to teach in Germany, Italy, England, France, Denmark, Kuwait and Sweden.

Enshin Ryu

In 1963, Fumon Tanaka was accepted as a disciple by Nichikan Kobayashi, 10th Soke of the old school of Enshin Ryu sword. The Odachi sword employed in this school is more than 2 meters long, a compromise between the large sword, the lance and the halberd. In 1975, Tanaka was selected to succeed his master as the head of the school and became the 11th Soke after having received, in 1973, the certificate of complete mastery (

menkyo kaiden is a Japanese term meaning "license." It refers to the license to teach used by practitioners of various Japanese classical arts and martial arts certifying some license within the school or ryū. The ''menkyo'' system dates back to the 8th ce ...

); He thus received in 1975 Gokui kaiden, (transmission of all the major techniques) of the school Enshin Ryu, concerning: * Koden iai (the art of quick drawing the greatsword, called ''Sengoku Ōdachi'' in this school) *

Kenjutsu is an umbrella term for all ('' ko-budō'') schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration. Some modern styles of kendo and iaido that were established in the 20th century also included modern forms o ...

and

Jūjutsu Jujutsu ( , or ), also known as jiu-jitsu and ju-jitsu (both ), is a Japanese martial art and a system of close combat that can be used in a defensive or offensive manner to kill or subdue one or more weaponless or armed and armored opponent ...

* Kumiuchi Hyogo (fusion of kenjutsu and jujutsu) * bojutsu (staffs) * sojutsu (spears) *

naginata The ''naginata'' (, , ) is a polearm and one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades ('' nihontō''). ''Naginata'' were originally used by the samurai class of feudal Japan, as well as by ashigaru (foot soldiers) and sōhei ( ...

(glaives) * Honmon Suemonogiri Kenpo - techniques of cutting objects with the sword.

Kukishin Ryu

In 1973 Tanaka Sensei is accepted as a secret disciple of the Head-Master Minaki Saburoji Masanori 17th Master of the

Kukishin-ryū , originally "Nine Gods Divine (from heaven) School" (also translated as "Nine Demon Divine (from heaven) School" by many modern groups having different lineages) is a Japanese martial arts, Japanese martial art allegedly founded in the 14th c ...

and Hontai Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu ( Bō and

Hanbō The ''hanbō'' (半棒, "half-staff") is a Stick fighting, staff used in martial arts. Traditionally, the ''hanbō'' was approximately three ''Shaku (unit), shaku'' or about long, half the length of the usual staff, the ''rokushakubō'' ("six ' ...

). In 1985, he received the license of Menkyo Kaiden. The 18th Soké of the Kukishin Ryu school, Kyodo Matsuda was Sōke for only one day. He then named Sōke Tanaka as 19th Soké of the Kukishin Ryu.

Soke

Fumon Tanaka is currently

Sōke , pronounced , is a Japanese term that means "the head family ouse" In the realm of Japanese traditional arts, it is used synonymously with the term '' iemoto''. Thus, it is often used to indicate "headmaster" (or sometimes translated as "head o ...

of the following ryū: * 19th Sōke - Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu * 11th Sōke - Koden Enshin Ryu Kumiuchi Kenden * 4th Sōke - The restored school Honmon Enshin Ryu Suemonogiri Kenpo * 19th Sōke - Tenshin Hyoho Soden Kukamishin Ryu

Soke-Dairi

* Hontai Takagi Yoshin Ryu * Bokuden Ryu * Shinto Tenshin Ryu (Tenshin Koryu) * Shinden Fudo Ryu * Asayama Ichiden Ryu * Shindo Tenshin Ryu

Other ranks

* Modern

Kendō is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu (one of the old Japanese martial arts, swordsmanship), that uses bamboo swords (shinai) as well as protective armor (bōgu). It began as samurai warriors' customary swordsmanship exerc ...

- 4th dan * Modern

Bōjutsu () is the martial art of stick fighting using a bō, which is the Japanese word for staff. Staffs have been in use for thousands of years in Asian martial arts like Silambam. Some techniques involve slashing, swinging, and stabbing with the ...

- 5th dan * Kumiuchi Hyōhō Soden Yawara-no-jutsu - 7th dan * Kyoshi

battōjutsu is an old term for iaijutsu (居合術). ''Battōjutsu'' is often used interchangeably with the terms ''iaijutsu'' and ''battō'' (抜刀).Armstrong, Hunter B. (1995) "The Koryu Bujutsu Experience" in ''Koryu Bujutsu: Classical Warrior Traditio ...

- 7th dan * Hanshi

kobudō is a collective term for Budō, Japanese traditional techniques for the use of armour, blades, firearms, and techniques related to combat and horse riding. The ''kanji'' and are other ways of writing it. The general umbrella term is also use ...

- 8th dan * Koga Ryu

ninjutsu , and are terms for the techniques and skills used by spies and scouts in pre-modern Japan known as ninja. Some of these techniques are recorded in ninja scrolls, some which have been published and translated. The study of these scrolls have c ...

* Iga Ryu ninpo

Other accomplishments

* 1974 - Soke attained 7th Dan in Swordsmanship at 31 years old, for Yawara Ju Jutsu and Iai Jutsu by Japanese Zen Kobudo Sogo Renmei. * 1989 - he received the title of Hanshi 8th Dan at the age of 46 years; he is the youngest person so highly graded in an Official Japanese Federation. He is 9th Dan of the World Jujutsu Federation.

Publications

Fumon Tanaka, ''Samurai Fighting Arts: The Spirit and the Practice'', (2003) Kodansha International, Fumon Tanaka, ''Sword Techniques of Musashi and the Other Samurai Masters'', (2013) Kodansha International,

Media

Fumon Tanaka has appeared in the BBC series

Mind, Body & Kick Ass Moves Mind, Body & Kick Ass Moves is a television programme broadcast on BBC Three. Presented by Chris Crudelli the documentary series travels around the Far East exploring different martial arts and learning the secret skills and knowledge of the ' Gr ...

and is shown in episode 7.Video Clip
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References

External links

Kobushiroppokai: Italian page for Fumon Tanaka's official representatives
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tanaka, Fumon Tanaka Japanese swordfighters 1943 births Living people